Love of knitting proves a lifelong affair

Published date03 November 2021
Publication titleCourier, The
Noeline Brown (nee McDougall) left Timaru Girls’ High School aged 15 to take up a position at the Canterbury Farmers Co-operative Association.

She got her first job at the Beswick St branch of the haberdashery.

Her manager was Jean Stapleton and she worked with three others, selling and stocking the displays with sewing needles, buttons and cotton.

Back then, a wooden reel of 50 yards of cotton cost 41/2p.

‘‘Most ladies used to sew back in those days, so we were always very busy. Buttons were very decorative and we had one of the biggest selections in South Canterbury.

‘‘Later, I went on to sell wool.

‘‘I married four years later to Don Brown, a panel beater of Timaru who worked for Tommy Knowles.

‘‘It was expected you would give up your job when you married. We had seven children.

‘‘I was very thankful my mother had taught me to knit and crochet. I did most...

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